Space Travel News
AFRICA NEWS
French weapons in Sudan 'in violation of UN embargo': Amnesty
French weapons in Sudan 'in violation of UN embargo': Amnesty
by AFP Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Nov 14, 2024

Military equipment built in France is being used in Sudan on armoured vehicles supplied by the UAE, in "violation of the UN arms embargo" on the Darfur region, Amnesty International said Thursday.

Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) built and supplied by the United Arab Emirates and spotted by Amnesty in Sudan were fitted with Galix defence systems -- made in France by companies KNDS and Lacroix.

"Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan," Amnesty's Secretary General Agnes Callamard said in a statement.

Fighting has intensified in recent weeks in Sudan's civil war, which pits the country's army under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by general Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, a former ally.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes and more than 11 million people have been forced from their homes in what the UN calls the world's worst displacement crisis.

The conflict in Sudan has nevertheless been overshadowed internationally by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The French-made Galix system has been spotted mounted on Nimr Ajban APCs supplied by the Emirates to the RSF, Amnesty said, also providing pictures of destroyed vehicles fitted with the system.

Galix is made up of sensors connected to a battery of launchers which can be loaded with ammunition such as smoke, decoys or projectiles, Lacroix says on its website.

"The Galix suite is not only for the purpose of self-defence (passive action) but also to actively neutralise hostile personnel," the company states.

"Any use (of Galix) in Darfur would be a clear breach of the UN arms embargo," Callamard said, calling on Paris to "immediately stop the supply of this system to the UAE" by the manufacturers.

Galix is fitted to more than 5,000 military vehicles worldwide, including some used by the French army.

France's SGDSN authority, which controls arms exports, told AFP it had not seen the Amnesty report and declined to comment.

KNDS and Lacroix also declined to comment.

A United Nations arms embargo has been in place on Sudan's Darfur region since 2004.

Amnesty has urged that the ban be extended to the whole country.

"If France cannot guarantee through export controls, including end user certification, that arms will not be re-exported to Sudan, it should not authorise" exports to countries such as the UAE, the group said.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
U.S. sanctions RSF commander for West Darfur over attacks on civilians
Washington DC (UPI) Nov 13, 2024
The Biden administration has sanctioned the West Darfur commander of the Rapid Support Forces on accusations that troops under his control have been responsible for violence targeting civilians, including sexual and ethnically motivated attacks. The breakaway RSF and the Sudan Defense Force have been waging a bloody civil war since April of 2023, resulting in at least 20,000 deaths. In West Darfur, the RSF and aligned militias have been accused of killing thousands of people and committi ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
AFRICA NEWS
Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742M years ago

Peculiar Pale Pebbles

Off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators could enable CO2 conversion on Mars

Chinese rover finds signs of ancient ocean on Mars

AFRICA NEWS
Full Beaver Supermoon set to be last of 2024

Denmark becomes 48th nation to sign Artemis Accords for space exploration

Sidus Space chosen to build Lunar Data Storage Spacecraft for Lonestar

ispace, GISTDA, and mu Space Partner for Thai Lunar Exploration Initiative

AFRICA NEWS
Uranus moon Miranda may hold a hidden ocean below its surface

NASA and SpaceX Set for Europa Clipper Launch on October 14

NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon

Is life possible on a Jupiter moon? NASA goes to investigate

AFRICA NEWS
On the origin of life and the formation of cell membranes

A new model estimates odds of intelligent life across universes

Optimal Learning Rates Revealed in New Study on Adaptation

Ariel spacecraft prepares for rigorous tests at Airbus facility

AFRICA NEWS
Next Starship Flight Test Scheduled for Tuesday with 30-Minute Launch Window

NORR and Fire Arrow join forces for sustainable spaceport projects

NASA Stennis a leading hub for commercial aerospace collaboration

NASA Stennis maintains vital role in space propulsion testing

AFRICA NEWS
China's commercial space sector expands as firms outline ambitious plans

China prepares Tianzhou 8 for upcoming launch to Tiangong station

Model of Haoloong Space Cargo Shuttle to Be Unveiled at Airshow China

Shenzhou 18 brings back samples for space habitability and materials research

AFRICA NEWS
Ion dynamics examined as comet 67P awakens from dormancy

NEOWISE concludes mission with re-entry but data continues to fuel discovery

Taurid meteor shower to reach peak visibility

Illuminating ancient origins of 4BN year-old Asteroid Ryugu

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.